Yarra Ranges National Park

Yarra Ranges National Park
A waterfall in Yarra Ranges National Park near Marysville
Coordinates: 37 ° 40 ′ 50 ″  S , 145 ° 59 ′ 27 ″  E
Location:	Victoria , Australia
Specialty:	Dense temperate rainforest
Surface:	760 km²
Founding:	1995

The Yarra Ranges National Park is a national park in the Australian state of Victoria , 92 km east of Melbourne . The source of the Yarra River and many other spring taps for the drinking water supply of Melbourne can be found in these mountains .

The national park was only established in 1995, but the area has been a drinking water protection area for around 100 years. Almost the entire national park is therefore closed to visitors. Still, it's a popular destination for day trips from Melbourne. Logging is carried out in most forest areas, including the drinking water protection area.

Flora and fauna

The dense old trees, especially made of king eucalyptus, offer shelter to cave-dwelling species such as owls and bats, but also to the squirrel bucket, which is threatened with extinction . In total there are around 40 species of mammals and 120 species of birds in the park, e. B. three types of owls ( black owl , giant owl and cheeky owl ), the rose breast snapper , the black cockatoo , the king parakeet , the white-browed hawk and the pennant parakeet .

history

Since the forest is very dense, the Aborigines avoided the area. The European settlers also found it difficult to access. In 1860 it was settled and regarded as good terrain for forestry. Soon after the potential for supplying Melbourne with drinking water had been recognized, the first wells were built.

tourism

On the Acheron Way, visitors to the park have the opportunity to experience the rainforest at a height of 15 meters from a 40 meter long visitor platform. Access is via a 350 meter long walkway that leads through up to 65 meter high stands of giant eucalyptus and Tasmanian beech . The platform is also accessible with wheelchairs and prams.

Web links

Commons : Yarra Ranges National Park  - Collection of Images, Videos, and Audio Files

• Yarra Ranges National Park . Parks Victoria

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Otmar Lind & Andrea Niehus, Australia: The most beautiful national parks, Edgar Hoff Verlag, Rappweiler, 2007
2. ↑ Information on the viewing platform, engl.